Cessna C-172 N8531B

Summary

On 3 February 1991 at about 02:45 local time, a Cessna C-172 registered N8531B, operated by John E. Ricks, was involved in an accident near Colstrip, Montana, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 February 1991 at 02:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Colstrip, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Colstrip (M46)

Coordinates

45.9798, -106.6708

Aircraft

Cessna C-172

Registration

N8531B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

John E. Ricks

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Colstrip → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

SEA91FA046

2 people died.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL NIGHT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, HIS LACK OF RECENT NIGHT FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, THE DARK NIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS, AND THE MOUNTAINOUS/HILLY TERRAIN IN THE AREA.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE ACFT IMPACTED A RIDGELINE ON DOWNWIND IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN WHILE THE PILOT WAS ON A NIGHT CURRENCY TRAINING FLIGHT AT A RECENTLY OPENED LIGHTED AIRPORT. THE PILOT HAD 4 HOURS TOTAL NIGHT FLIGHT TIME, WITH .8 HOURS PIC, ALL FLOWN DURING INITIAL PILOT TRAINING IN 1984. HE HAD NO RECORDED NIGHT FLIGHT TIME SINCE. HE WAS NOT INSTRUMENT RATED AND HAD NO INSTRUMENT FLIGHT TIME. THE AIRPORT IS LOCATED IN AN UNPOPULATED MOUNTAINOUS AREA WITH VERY LITTLE ARTIFICIAL LIGHT. THERE WAS NO NATURAL ILLUMINATION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.